For the ultimate off-piste experience, with no crowds and no effort, then you have to try heliskiing. While, not permitted in France, there are a number of excellent heliski locations in Switzerland and Italy. It is a complete experience, with a thrilling helicopter ride up into the high mountains, a remote drop of, followed by an incredible sense of isolation as the helicopter leaves in awe inspiring terrain, followed by a fantastic off-piste ski descent.

One of the must-do heliskiing trips is the Mont Rosa from Zermatt. A flight up and in from of the Matterhorn, a drop of at over 4000m below the summit of the Mont Rosa, and a 2500m descent back into Zermatt.

A guide is obligatory for heliskiing, as no helicopter company will take you without one.